He’d had a thousand incredible fantasies of her since their night together, but the reality of this moment put them all to shame. No mere fantasy could hold a candle to the real woman.

He placed his hands on her hips, helping guide her as she rode him. He moved his thumb to her clit and stroked as he thrust upward with his hips.

She let out a screeching gasp and ever so slightly adjusted her hips, and he increased the pressure of his thumb to match her movements. From there, it was a long, sensual, and yet frantic slide to the finish as she clenched him tight while he thrust and stroked.

He might have been on the precipice forever—he would never be sure—but after a glorious never-ending agony, he came, spilling inside her. He felt her clench again as she pressed her clit to his thumb. He ground into her with both cock and digit until her body convulsed again with orgasm. She made a sound of pleasure that would live in his memory forever.

Spent, she collapsed on his chest. He adjusted her position to allow his cock to slide from the sheath of her body. His semen spilled from her, a sticky warmth that usually he’d jump up to wash away, but in this moment, he lacked the energy. Plus, it was kind of great to not have to get up and get rid of the condom when all he wanted to do was hold her and feel her racing heart beat next to his.

He’d never dared to hope for this, but here they were. He didn’t even feel the pain in his shoulder, he was too busy marveling at the gift of having this moment with Audrey after the nightmare he’d put her through.

“I’m falling in love with you, Dr. Kendrick. I have been since that first moment we met.” The words slipped out, too big to keep inside after all the pain he’d given her. A truth he’d denied out of necessity so he could do the unthinkable to maintain his status as the warrior he was no longer capable of being.

He loved her. With his whole being. In ways that terrified him. And his feelings weren’t because of the baby. No. It was simply Audrey, who had a passion for nature and the world and her place in it and grit that left him in awe.

She rolled to her side, and he followed so they were chest to chest with his right shoulder bearing his weight. She met his gaze in the lantern light and smiled. “I’m thankful we have this moment,” she said. She touched his lips with her fingers and added, “And I’m hopeful for our future.”

He kissed her forehead, her cheek, her lips, and nuzzled her neck, then whispered, “We need to sleep.”